Future seaplane zone sought near Hopewell Marina

HOPEWELL, VA (WWBT) -

Hopes are flying high for seaplanes to touch down in the
Appomattox River near the Hopewell Marina. The newly refurbished Marina will officially
open next weekend, with City leaders working to have a plane land for the
grand opening.

An effort is now in motion to establish a seaplane zone
within Hopewell's stretch of the Appomattox River. If the move is successful,
the seaplane site would be one of the few civilian seaplane zones between
Florida and New York.

The Marina's grand opening is set for Saturday, May 10th.

Hopewell once operated a municipal airport with seaplane
access, from 1933 until the late 1980s. It was located on Jordan Point on the
southern shore of the James River, described as a triangular, sandy clay field.